Free PRINCE OF THE WIND by Charlotte Boyet-Compo Page B

so I may safely and legally confiscate your lands?"
    Guy’s jaw tightened and he swung his head toward her, deliberately letting his gaze shift to her exposed bosom. He was shocked to see she wore no corset, no camisole to hide her nakedness, equally shocked to see dark bruises and teeth marks on her bare breasts. He forced himself to look into her face.
    "They will pay for what they have done to me." Her words fell like poisonous darts. "I can promise you that." She began to button her bodice.
    "And rightfully so," he whispered, keeping his gaze on her.
    She smiled. "Always the gentleman," she mocked. "The tender-hearted Romny."
    Du Mer inclined his head. He was proud of his gypsy heritage.
    "You have an escort with you?" she asked, changing the subject so quickly du Mer blinked with a moment’s confusion.
    "Aye," he answered. At her elevated brow and tilted head, he corrected himself. "Aye, Your Grace."
    The Princess of the Northwinds laughed huskily, then sat as gracefully as her bare feet and shapeless gown would allow.
    "I shall require adequate traveling clothes," she said, smoothing the wrinkled skirt around her legs.
    "Of course, Your Grace," du Mer said from between clenched teeth.
    "And a coach and four." She studied him. "Liveried servants to attend me."
    He sketched her a bow. "As you wish."
    "A basket of culinary delights that would thrill the most jaded taste." She put a finger to her lip. "And the very best wines you can find."
    "Certainly."
    She gazed sharply at him. "Are there still Chalean forces on Northwind soil?"
    Du Mer felt a twisting in his gut. He knew she was bound to inquire about the Chaleans. "There were forces from all three countries—"
    "Chale, Ionary and Oceania," Suzanna snapped, fanning her hand with dismissal. "I know that." She narrowed her hot eyes. "But are they still here?"
    "Olan Hesar and his Windwarrior’s were routed about three months after—" He looked away from her.
    "After my imprisonment?"
    Du Mer refused to take her bait. "The four allies, the Zones included, of course, were all set to attack him in return, but he had mined his harbors and any ship attempting to enter Viragonian water was blown to bits."
    "Well," she said, her brows moving upward. "I suppose that rather effectively keeps him in his own bailiwick, so to speak."
    "Aye, Your Grace. He has caused no mischief for more than a year."
    Suzanna regarded him for a moment, her tongue caught reflectively between her lips. At last, she tilted her head to the side and smiled. "So there is no need for foreign troops to be on Northzone soil?"
    The twisting in du Mer’s gut grew worse. "No, Milady. They left several months back."
    "What of him?" she asked, looking at her skirt and brushing away a piece of lint.
    Guy closed his eyes. He knew precisely whom she meant.
    He also wondered how she would take the news.
    "He is in Chale."
    "He is well?"
    "As far as I know, he is."
    Suzanna sighed—almost like a lovesick teenage girl—and ran her palm along her thigh. "He is nineteen, now?"
    "Just last week, I believe."
    She glanced up. "Of marriageable age, according to Chalean law."
    Du Mer didn’t comment. Instead, he watched her lower her head again as she continued to caress her thigh.
    "And has he married?"
    "No, Your Grace—"
    "Betrothed?" When he did not answer, she looked up. "Who is she?"
    Guy could not miss the iron in his Overlordess’ tone. He saw the bitterness behind the steady gaze and imagined he could detect the spark of madness that clung there.
    "Who is she?" Suzanna repeated, her palm ceasing its rhythmic motion up and down her thigh.
    Du Mer knew he had no choice but to answer. She would find out anyway, and he did not wish to give her reason to charge him with any kind of seditious act. That he would be exiled, he did not question. That his family would be allowed to remain on their ancestral lands depended upon how well he could pacify Suzanna and keep her hatred of him from spilling onto his innocent